shortcuts and desktop freezing

[ecc83]

Several times a day the shortcuts fail to light up and right clicking on the desktop does nothing, i.e. I do not get the white "view,sortby, Screen resolution..di da... panel up.

Clicking Start>All programs gets me access to them but nothing short of a re-start gets the shortcuts etc, back, but back they always come!

The machine is an HP desktop a few months old bought with W7 Home Premium installed. They did not supply a W7 disc but there is a Recovery partiton.

In most other respects I am very happy with W7 coming from XP.

Dave.

 

[richc46]

Sounds like it might be graphics card
Type device manager in search
In device manager look for any yellow warning markers
Up date the graphics driver.

 

[ecc83]

Nope,
A later driver was I assume found as Windows did install something, but there is no improvement in fact it seems to me that the interval between lockups is getting shorter.

Thaks for the efforts so far.
Dave.

 

[ecc83]

The problem is definitely getting more frequent. It seems to happen now whenever I return from even brief internet activity but I do not think that is the only cause.

A restart fixes it as I said but I have now found that logging off and on again does the same. At least that is a faster procedure!

Dave.

 

[richc46]

Dave, really sounded like the graphics card, but guess Iwas wrong
Run a full anti virus scan
Download and run malwarebytes. Run the full scan, but update before the scan.

 

[ecc83]

No joy.
I have run AVG and the Malwarebytes* apps and they say there are no infections.

The computer has been on for some hours but not used and the shortcuts were still working 5 minutes ago. A trip to Google and back,...frozen and being shut down for the night.

*WHAT! a PITA that lot are! They try to trick you into downloading everything but the thing you want! Had the information not come from yourselves to dld it I would have given them up as sharletans peddling very invasive if not infected software. I am well used to such sites that do not give a clear " press this to download xxx" and I generally give them short shrift. Do they not have the intelligence to see that IF people get clucked about trying the "freebie" they are NEVER going to BUY anything!?

Thanks again for trying, G'night all.
Dave.

 

[ecc83]

I have just run Diagnostic Tools (F9 from boot) and I get a "Boot Path Failed" cross..

Error : code BIOHD-4 (in red so as to scare the *hit out of one!)

Error: Uninitialized/corrupt boot structure detected. Press F8 and run "repair your computer"

I pressed F8 and the consequences of going further seem dire involving re-installing a lot of software that I do not really have time to do at the moment.

How bad is that error please and could it be linked to my screen problem?

Dave.

 

[richc46]

I think that the best solution would be a reapair intstall and yes you should back up your stuff, just in case
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

 

[ecc83]

Thanks Rich but that repair function requires a Win 7 install disc which I don't have*

My biggest problem is a programme called Samplitude. If I do a complete clean out I have to jump thru' hoops for days to get a re activation code out of Magix (they assume you are ripping the software to every pc in the land!) and this leaves us unable to run a lot of music files until it is sorted.

In any case my investigations have revealed that this BIOHD-4(NTLDR file corrupt or missing) error is an HP cockup and is well known about. Some poor souls cannot get their machines to boot at all because of it! At least I can still run mine..For now!

I have some links to both HP Cust' service and an HP forum (buggered if I am phoning them. I watch "The IT Crowd"!) and I bought the pc from CPC/Farnell so I shall also be bothering the boots of those as well!

*Question: Why does everyone, well, tech's anyway,on forums ALWAYS assume the punter has a Windows installation disc? When I was in the market for this pc I inquired of lots of computer suppliers, NOT ONE would supply their machines with that kind of support. Yes, I have a recovery partition and I am urged to make repair and recovery discs(done) but could not get a pc with a W7 (or any other os, tried in the past) for love or money, well yes, the latter but why should I pay "twice" for W7?

I shall report back chaps.
Many thanks so far.
Dave.

 

[richc46]

Give this command a try. It will report any errors, even if not able to fix them. Run 3 times if errors are found.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

 

[ecc83]

Update;
I have had a (swift!) response from HP Customer Care to the effect that the error points to a duff hard drive and once I furnish them with precise details they will ship me a replacement. Fair doos, they are doing their best but...
This means I now have to make a set of Recovery DVD's and when, as I mentioned in my last post, I was in the market for a new pc, suppliers told me that their machines came with a recovery partition so they did not supply a Windows disc. I S.A.I.D at the time "Fine, but what if the very HDD the partition is on goes T's U?" The reply was (after some time head scratching!) "You make a set of recovery discs" !!! So for THEIR convienience the bloody customer has to do all the work!

GRRRRR! And I also have to debase myself once again to MAGIX's interrogations!

For everyones' information; The speed of HP's response and the surity with which they condemned the drive suggest to me that this is not an isolated incident so if anyone has a recently aquired HP pc (which is otherwise great btw) and you have any kind of problem with it, run the F9 diagnostic..soonest!

Lastly. Does no one wish to comment upon the practice of not supplying a Windows disc?

Dave.

 

[ecc83]

Help!
I thought the process of making a set of recovery discs would be fairly straightforward but not so it seems.

I have to replace the (C) hard drive and so HP have told me to make a set of such discs. I do not seem to be able to find the "process" to begin this. All attempts to Google for help end up in talking about a "repair" disc which is not what I need and in fact already have.

My assumption is that I need to copy over the recovery partition on this HP machine but how to begin?

Dave.

 

[ecc83]

Cracked it!
Bit of panic I think.

Just burning some copies.

Dave.